Is Patriotism Just a Seemingly Nice Word for Xenophobia?

I've never ever, even since I was a small child, understood the idea that we're supposed to have some special reverence for people who were born in our own country. I simply can't figure out any way that patriotism is any better than racism. It seems to me to be nothing more than discrimination. I also find it a bit ironic that the whole supposed theme of christianity is brotherly love, yet it seems that the more christian a person is, the more they are likely to be patriotic. Am I missing something? Is there an aspect of patriotism that is in fact morally noble?

“Patriotism is the belief your country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it.” George Bernard Shaw

Patriotism is not xenophobia, although xenophobic people will often use patriotism or god to further their agenda or spread their fears. The reason these seem so connected, in my lay opinion, is because they often all rely on in-group versus out-group mentalities. Religion, race, and patriotism all rely on putting the emphasis on those within. Often, an easy way to do that and promote group cohesion is by vilifying those without.

I think there are plenty of examples of noble patriotism. The problem is that the label "Patriot" has been hijacked by these other forces that fly fear and hate as their flag. But that is not the only way to be patriotic.

With one exception: I don't think noble patriotism is any more noble than doing something noble for any other people or group of people; it's all part of being a social animal as part of a group, of acting altruistically.

Hmm ... interesting subject which I've just Wiki'd ... like most concepts, it depends what you mean by them : patriotism can be positive in terms of being prepared to contribute, question and if necessary defend your country. Especially if you live in a democracy where you have (in theory) some input into how it's governed and rights and benefits which people have fought for? Allied with a genuine fondness for the place, 'warts n all' ? You might say, as Virginia Woolf did that '[as a woman] my country is the whole world' and we can identify with particular groups worldwide but it's a bit like saying we should 'love everybody' ...for most people, their real connections are more limited and their country, or at least their local part of it, its traditions, its language etc, is what they really know and is part of who they are ... hence people 'living in exile' often yearn for 'home' don't they? Even if the home they left is no longer there ... I suppose many people now have dual/multiple nationalities/patriotic feelings/ identities ... anyway this is my way of thinking ...